Tool-handle



(No Model.)

G. H. WAHLER.

TOOL HANDLE. No. 337,464. Patented Mar.- 9, 188-6.

gvwemlfoz Emma STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. WAHLER, OF LITTLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOOL-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,464, dated March 9, 1886.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No. 185,434. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WAHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Littlestown, in the county of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Handles; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a longitudinal section, showing the gripping-jaws extended and in their normal position; Fig. 2, a crosssection on line 00 w of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 an end view of the handle.

The present invention has relation to that class of tool-handles provided with expanding gripping-jaws; and it consists in the details of construction, substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the handle, having a central bore to receive the shank a of the jaws B 0. Located in the bore of the handle is a spiral spring, I), which presses against the extremity of the shank a to keep the jaws B 0 extended by aid of a small spiral spring, 0, arranged between and transversely of the jaws, the ends of the spring being seated in mortises d, formed in the inner faces of said jaws.

In order that the shank a may move longitudinally in the bore of the handle in operating the jaws, I provide the shank with an elongated slot, 6, through which passes a guide-bolt, D, forming both means for retaining the shank in the bore of the handle and also a stop to limit its longitudinal movement.

This bolt D is formed with a head at one end, and at its other has screw-threads to receive a suitable nut, f, both the head and nut being seated in mortises in the handle.

' \Vhen it is desired to remove the shank with its jaws, the bolt can be readily removed by unscrewing the nut. The jaw B is stationary, it being of the same piece as the shank a, while the jaw O is pivoted thereto, and when said shank is forced out by the action of the spring I) the jaw will be extended laterally by spring a.

The jaws B Care of the usual form, and upon outer sides are formed V-shaped grooves extending longitudinally therewith, said grooves g engaging with correspondingly-formed ribs h, upon the interior of the bore of the handle and diametrically opposite each other, said grooves increasing in depth as they approach the outer ends of the jaws, thereby forminga complete guide for the jawsin their movement in the bore of the handle, and also to take the strain from the bolt. At the opposite end of the handleis awrench, consisting of a mortise, t, in which is pivoted a jaw, E, said jaw kept pressed against the object grasped by means of a spring, 7c, pressing outward against the shank Z of the jaw. The shank Z is located in an extension of the mortise i, and in grasping an object the shank is pressed in with the finger, which throws out the jaw E, to enable the object to enter the mortise.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A tool-handle having a central bore, a slotted shank located and held therein by a trans verse bolt passing through the slot, and expanding jaws extending from the shank, having longitudinal grooves engaging with correspondingly-formed ribs in the bore of the handle, springs for operating the jaws and shank, and the opposite end of the handle provided with a suitable wrench, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above Ihave hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. WAHLER.

Witnesses:

R. S. SEIss, J. H. KLEIN. 

